20-year-old Soul (2022)

Asano Taigi will be forever remembered by the world.

This movie is adapted and based from a real life story, and describe the life of a real person, teenager named Asano Taigi. Based on what is described the movie, he is seen to be a kind and cheerful person.
He created the fight song for his Alma mater, Ichifuna Soul (which is still used until today as a cheering song) and some other pieces.
Unfortunately, this gifted person had to face cancer in real life and despite setbacks, he managed to write a few pieces of music with his gradually weaken body when he is battling with his cancer in real life. He lost his battle on 12 Jan 2017 and his friends who are attending his funeral are playing the music he composed there as a way to remember his 20 years of life.
If he still alives today, he would be an teacher on a Japanese school teaching music or even composing additional pieces of music. Despite his short life, this movie is dedicated to him to record his brilliant life, so that he can be remembered by the world.
You can find a lot of articles that are dedicated to him on Japanese internet, which you are welcome to read. Also do check up the subber Edward Wong which subbed this movie for your enjoyment.
May his soul rest in peace.

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"Jasmine - Gift From God."

10/05/2023

It is a sad movie and one that will pull at your heart strings.

I think movies like this are hard to re-watch as they need boxes of tissues.

Coming to terms with something like cancer is difficult at any age especially when it is aggressive with no mercy whatsoever and it cuts your time short.

Taigi Asano despite being a true fighter had real fears and questioned why he was the target - he wanted to live, like most of us, only that was taken away from him at the age of twenty.

The difference with his story compared to what I've experienced, seen or heard about in my time is Taigi Asano didn't really come to grips with dying, and that to me was the saddest part because he would have been so scared in his final moments, and that shouldn't have been so.

There are stages that a person goes through when dying or that we go through when someone dies and for some reason he didn't seem to accept what was going to happen.

In some countries, like the UK, there are dedicated counsellors to assist those that are dying so that they are psychologically prepared. So, I'm wondering what does Japan have these days because 20 years ago if someone was diagnosed with a terminal disease families had the right to keep that from the person if they wanted.

In fact, there is this one brief scene where Taigi's sister has bought a cake for him and says lightheartedly to her mother more or less: "We can do cake again next year..." I don't think she knew the seriousness of his condition compared to his parents and him. Not at all!

I also want to mention that turning twenty in Japan is quite a special time and significant for all young people that age as it means they can drink and gamble - it is celebrated on the second Monday of January every year where they dress up in kimonos or smart attire and have the best time ever!

Unfortunately, Taigi Asano died a few days after it was celebrated so never had that opportunity.

The reason I mention it is because his girlfriend acknowledged him making it to that age in one small scene and I felt it really underplayed the significance of it, however, he wouldn't have been able to celebrate the "Coming of Age Day " even if he wanted to as he would have been too sick.

I wish he had been able to do that at least.

Anyhow, Taigi Asano composed a few musical pieces in high school and university with "Jasmine" being one that he wrote and completed not long before he died and the other being a short anthem for his high school which is full of vigor with an upbeat drum intro. Maybe others too - not sure.

At the end of the movie you will hear the song "Jasmine" sung in English by Kenta Dedachi and there is a real photo of Taigi Asano attached to it before it finishes.

The song in English comes across a bit like a love song so I'm not sure if it quite fits in with how Taigi meant it to be with some of the lyrics, but it is a beautifully written song to what was just a musical composition.

Asano composed "Jasmine" as "Jasmine" means "Gift from God".

For him, each day waking up was a "gift from god" and he really wished that his "tomorrow" "the gods would grant his wish" to "let him live" not make forever "memories". Being alive each day, having good moments rather than bad, seeing butterflies flying around and his hopes was what the song was all about and to not disappear.

He wanted to live!

"Jasmine"
良かったらどうぞ。自分なりの和訳も加えてみました。(YouTube)

Do you hear the song?
Quiet melody
Ringing in the hallway still
When you feel
Like you’re falling behind
Be still
And hear your heart

Treasure your heart
Wherever you go

Say you’ll remember
Every moment together
You are my forever
My gift from above
I’ll never let you go
If you never let me go
I’ll give my soul for you
Tonight…


You’re the one I want
In my memories
If I could only have one wish
When I couldn’t fight fear
You cheered me in tears
And you’re still
Standing here with me

We’re only at the beginning

Say you’ll remember
Every moment together
You are my forever
My gift from above
I’ll never let you go
If you never let me go
I’ll give my soul for you
Tonight…

Every night I pray to God in bed
In spite of the pain I thank you for the light
in my life
Here’s to another day

Don’t wait ’til tomorrow
If you know you’re not over
You are my jasmine
My gift from above
I’ll never let you go
If you never let me go
I’ll give my all my soul…

Say you’ll remember
Every moment together
You are my forever
My gift from above
I’ll never let you go
If you never let me go
I’ll give my soul for you

If there is tomorrow
Let go of your sorrow
Remember the rainbow
That gift from above
I’ll never let you go
If you never let me go
I’ll give my soul for you
Tonight…

その歌が聞こえますか？
静かなメロディーが
廊下で今でも鳴っている
あなたが取り残されていると感じたら
静かに心の声を聞いてね

たとえ何処に行こうとも
あなたの心を大切にしてね

すべての瞬間を一緒に心に留めようと言って
あなたは私の永遠で
天上からの贈り物
私はあなたを決して手放さない
もしあなたが手放さずにいてくれたら
魂をあなたのために捧げるよ
今宵は…

あなたは、私の思い出の中で望む唯一の人です
もし私が1つだけ願いを持つことができたならば
恐怖に打ち勝つことができなかったとき
あなたは涙を流して私を励ましてくれた
そしてあなたは今でも私とここに立っている

私たちはまだ始まりに過ぎない

すべての瞬間を一緒に心に留めようと言って
あなたは私の永遠で
天上からの贈り物
私はあなたを決して手放さない
もしあなたが手放さずにいてくれたら
魂をあなたのために捧げるよ
今宵は…
毎晩ベッドで神様に祈っています
苦しみにも負けず私は人生の希望の光に感謝します
今日も一日頑張ろう

ただじっと明日を待つことをしないで
終わっていないと分かるならば
あなたは私の｢ジャスミン｣だから
天上からの贈り物
私はあなたを決して手放さない
もしあなたが手放さずにいてくれたら
魂をあなたのために捧げるよ

すべての瞬間を一緒に心に留めようと言って
あなたは私の永遠で
天上からの贈り物
私はあなたを決して手放さない
もしあなたが手放さずにいてくれたら
魂をあなたのために捧げるよ
今宵は…

明日がそこにあるのなら
悲しみなんて捨てて
虹を思い浮かべよう
天上からの贈り物
私はあなたを決して手放さない
もしあなたが手放さずにいてくれたら
魂をあなたのために捧げるよ
今宵は…

It is a touching tribute to a young male that really loved music - he still lives on because of the pieces he composed.

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